Municipal News & Jobs

A small town in southeast Kansas is getting a big new resource. Members of the healthcare and education communities in Humboldt gathered together Wednesday, October 8, for the opening of a new life services facility, holding a ribbon cutting ceremony and walkthrough of the Cubs Community Care Center, which officials say showcased their new community spaces and virtual learning opportunities. The building is a collaboration among Humboldt Schools, Southeast Kansas Mental Health, Ashley Clinic, and Allen Community College.
Read more: KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com

A small town fire station is teaching kids the importance of fire safety. Staff from the Columbus fire department gave Park Elementary school students fire prevention and response tips. The kids were taught how to escape simulated smoke-filled rooms, use fire hoses, and how to work a smoke alarm. Today’s class was one of many; the Columbus Unified School District plans to send it to the station for Fire Prevention Week. The school’s principal, Matthew Crain, whose daughter recently went through the demonstrations, says the information has kids excited and better equipped.
Read more: KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com

The Lawrence Police Department (LKPD) shared that its beloved K9, Cheeseburger, had passed away. On Wednesday, Oct. 8, the LKPD shared that Cheeseburger had died in the morning, surrounded by his family. “Our family is forever grateful that the department and community of Lawrence trusted us to care for Cheeseburger in his retirement,” the LKPD wrote on social media. The LKPD said that Cheeseburger spent the last 2.5 years of his life to the fullest with toys, treats, car rides and love.
Read more: KSNT 27 News

Officials from Sunflower Wind faced stiff questioning from county commissioner Clarke Dirks Plant manager Jase Sherwood and project manager Danny Sears-Greer told commissioners about repairing and replacing the blades, but Dirks had extensive questions. He wanted to know how much the blade and debris weighed and debris removed from the site so he could determine how much of the blades original material had not been disposed of.
Read more: Marion County RECORD

Five Hillsboro Police officers will receive a lot more in retirement effective Jan. 1 because of Hillsboro City Council action Tuesday. Hillsboro police officers do not contribute to Social Security because they are in the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System. Under the change they will switch to the KPERS affiliated Kansas Police and Fire retirement.
Read more: Marion County RECORD

Marion’s new economic development director, Megan Jones, wants to develop a business plan for the city to follow. Jones, hired two weeks ago at an annual salary of $55,000, thinks her experience of working and owning Bill and Essie’s BBQ with her husband, Daryl, for a little more than one year will help in her new position. “I am assessing and planning,” she said. “I don’t want to jump off the diving board without knowing how deep the water is.”
Read more: Marion County RECORD

Zoning has been a hot topic for numerous years across northeast Kansas, and now, the Nemaha County Planning Commission has developed a zoning code titled, “Land Development Code of Nemaha County, Kansas.” This zoning code, which has been in the works for multiple months — or even years — is now scheduled for a public hearing on Monday, Oct. 27, in Seneca at the Nemaha County Community Center, located at 1500 Community Drive in Seneca.
Read more: The Sabetha Herald

While it appears there are more homeless visible around Hutchinson, it’s an issue not unique to Hutchinson or Reno County, local and state housing experts said, but a growing problem nationally and statewide. Based on signals in the economy, it could get worse. Local officials, agencies and churches haven’t been idle, working for decades to find solutions to age-old challenges. But the reasons for homelessness are myriad, and the solutions complex. The Tribune will take a deeper look at some of those issues and community responses in a series of articles beginning with this broader look.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce is attempting to court a nuclear power plant into the Hutchinson area. Chamber President and CEO Debra Teufel was presenting to Hutchinson City Council about ways the chamber is attempting to bring in jobs and workers into the city when she mentioned a communication she’d had with City Manager Enrico Villegas. The communication she had with Villegas was about the nuclear energy company Terrapower, and a memorandum of understanding they signed with Evergy and the Kansas Department of Commerce to bring a new, modular nuclear energy site into Evergy’s territory.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

Reno County Director of Information Technology (I.T.) Tim McClatchey received a proclamation recognizing October 2025 as Cybersecurity Awareness Month in Reno County by the County Commission. “All of I.T. staff work very hard to keep us safe,” McClatchey told commissioners. “I just wanted to spread that awareness further, not just in the county but to the community.” Each October the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the National Cybersecurity Alliance lead national awareness campaigns emphasizing the importance of data protection, he said.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

Last October, the city of Partridge broke ground on what would become their new library and community center building. In the two weeks since they opened, they’ve welcomed over 100 guests and–this Tuesday–representatives from the Kansas Department of Commerce.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

The plot of land on the southeast corner of East Avenue F and South Elm Street will soon belong to Jim and Heidi Unruh. The Hutchinson Land Bank Board of Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to give the Unruhs this property after the Unruhs submitted an application that included a site plan that accommodates the needs of their wheelchair-dependent daughter. Interfaith Housing and Community Services is working with the Unruhs to construct a new house on this property.
Read more: The Hutchinson Tribune

A cycling and trails enthusiast passed through Iola this weekend as part of his “Ride 4 Resilience” to raise money for cancer research and a group dedicated to preserving and building upon the state’s recreational trails. Mike Scanlon wants people to know Iola has a pretty cool trail system. Scanlon, executive director of the newly-formed nonprofit Kansas Trails Inc., was in town last weekend riding the Lehigh Portland trails.
Read more: The Iola Register

Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday voted to expand a property tax rebate program with a goal of offering further assistance to seniors with low incomes and veterans who are disabled. A pilot program rolled out last year. About 81% of the 135 applicants were eligible. They received an average rebate of $281, with the maximum set at $300, and the county gave almost $31,000 total back to taxpayers, according to documents in the meeting agenda. County commissioners approved $500,000 in their budget to offset the cost of rebates, so the value of all rebates came to less than 1% of the funds set aside. For 2026, county staff members proposed increasing the maximum rebate to $400, or the county’s portion of the person’s property taxes if that amount is lower than $400.
Read more: The Lawrence Times

Marysville’s black squirrel ordinance, adopted in 1972, directs the mayor “at nut-gathering time” to proclaim an annual Black Squirrel Day. Through the decades the celebration has appeared under different names — Black Squirrel Day, Black Squirrel Fun Night and Black Squirrel Night. With a full slate of activities and a nod to traditions of years past, this year’s community celebration is Black Squirrel Fall Fest.
Read more: www.marysvilleonline.net

When the Colby City Council meets to discuss a new STAR bond project on Oct. 8, 2025, they will have to vote on the proposal without seeing the full feasibility study done by the Kansas Department of Commerce. This is because Commerce requires governing bodies to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to receive the entire study. If they decline, they’re given a summary. Colby City Manager Ron Alexander told The Sentinel in a phone interview that he declined to do so because he was uncomfortable with the requirement.
Read more: The Sentinel

A new collaboration will give students in Dodge City and southwest Kansas expanded access to the transformative power of a bachelor’s degree — all from the comfort and support of their hometown region. Combining the breadth and depth of a traditional four-year university with the homegrown reach and accessibility of a two-year community college, Dodge City Community College and Kansas State University are teaming up to expand access to bachelor’s degree programs in agriculture and education.
Read more: themercury.com

News of layoffs at Iola’s Gates Corporation plant hit hard last week. After learning that 80 employees will soon lose their jobs, local leaders immediately went to work attempting to turn crisis into opportunity. Within hours, Thrive Allen County’s Camille Lavon was on the phone with company officials and state partners, mapping out a plan to keep the 80 soon-to-be-displaced employees working close to home. 
Read more: The Iola Register

While the incumbents gave various reasons for stepping down, the increasing polarization and hostility around issues in the city, in some ways mirroring national trends, are discouraging them from staying any longer.
Read more: KC Star

Derek Raines asked for a moratorium and a noise resolution regarding the bitcoin mining natural gas generators near his property… Raines said that the stress of having the constant noise is taking a toll on him and his family. Neighbor Kimberly Sparks lives 3/4 of a mile away and can hear the humming and feel the vibration constantly. “It’s very upsetting,” she said. Commissioner Milburn said she had contacted the administration of Jefferson County to get their information on how they handled this issue.
Read more: Fort Scott Biz